Loss-preventing device for jewelry.



I M. MILLER.

LOSS PREVENTING DEVICE FOR JEWELRY.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3. I916.

1,1 89,467 V Patented July 4, 191 6.

n4: nouns runs m swam-urns. WASRING'IDN, n. c.

JAMES M. MILLER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

LOSS-PREVENTING DEVICE FOR JEWELRY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 3, 1916. Serial No. 81,962.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES M. MmLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Loss-Preventing Devices for Jewelry, of which the following is a specification.

This invention contemplates the provision of a loss preventing'device, primarily designed for use in connection with cuff buttons, although susceptible for other uses.

The invention aims to provide a device of the above mentioned character, embodying a snap hook adapted to be associated with the shank of the button, and a clasp connected with the snap through the medium of a flexible element, the clasp being constructed to effectively engage the garment of the user, so that the cufi" button cannot become casually disengaged from the cuff, thereby preventing the loss of the button.

The nature of the invention will be better understood from the following description the construction and arrangement of'parts' as definedin the appended claims. 7 r In the drawing forming part of this specification like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views and wherein Figure 1 is a view showing one manner of using the device. Fig. 2 is a top plan view. Fig. 3 is a view through-the device. Fig. 1 is an end view of the clasp. Fig.5 is a plan view of the blank from which the clasp is formed.

As shown the device forming the subject matter of my invention consists of a memher 5 connected by means of a resilient element 6 such as a chain or the like, with the clasp 7. As above stated the device is primarily designed to prevent theloss of cufi buttons from the sleeve, and the member 5 is therefore adapted to be associated with the shank of the button A, while the clasp 7 is adapted to be secured to the sleeve in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1. The member 5 is in the nature of a snap hook, wherein the body portion thereof is provided with a longitudinal bore 8 closed at one end and opening at the other end of the body portion. The hook portion 9 extends from one end of the body, and is provided with an enlarged terminal 10 disposed in aline with the bore 8. Slidably fitted within the bore plunger 11. Arranged within-the bore 8 is an .extensile spring 1% having one end bearing against the closed end of the bore and] its opposite end bearing against the exten-- sion 12, the spring operating to normally maintain the plunger 11 in projected posi- I 7 tion, the plunger having its free end terminating in a point adapted to be received w1th1n a recess in the enlargementlO of the hook 9. The body portion 5 is provided with a ring 16 at one end for association with the adjacent end of the chain 6. The clasp 7 as shown in this particular instance,

is formed from a single blank of material 7 preferably metal, which blank is clearly shown in Fig. 5 and adapted to be bent along its transverse center into U-form, thereby providing parallel limbs 17 and 18 respectively. Prlor to the bendin of the blank into this configuration, the Tlank is V slit along spaced parallel lines 19 thereby defining opposed separated portions 20 and an intermediate separated-portion 21. When the blank is bent in the manner shown in Fig. 3 the portions 20 are bulged as at 22 in a direction opposite from that of the separated portion 21, thereby defining a loop or ring with which the opposite end of the chain 6 is adapted to'be connected.

The limb 18 is cut away to provide a sub- 'stantially rectangular opening 23 from one edge of which project tapered lugs or tangs 2%, the latter being bent inwardly toward the limb 1( at any angle from the edge from which they project, the lugs 2 1 being disposed in spacedrelation'. The limb 17 is provided with a substantially L-shaped slot 25 and swelled portions 26 arranged at the opposite sides of the laterally disposed branch 27 of the slot, to accommodate a pivot pin 28, upon which is mounted for rocking movement a locking lever 29.

The lever 29 is constructed from an elongated strip of material of a width substantially equal to the width of the longitudr nally disposed branch portion of the L-shaped slot 25, the lever being of angular formation and having one of its branches indicated at 30 operating between the parallel member of the clasp and its other branch 31 Patented Jui 4, 1916.

operating between the longitudinally disposed portion of the slot 25, the branch 31 terminating to provide a finger grip 32 which projects above the slot to facilitate moving of the lever to operative or inoperative position. Encircling the pivot pin 28 at one side of the lever 29, and disposed within the lateral branch 2'? of the L-shaped slot, is a coil spring 33 having one of its terminals 3i bearing against the under side of the limb 17 of the clasp, and its opposite terminal bearing against the clasp 31 of said lever, the spring operating to normally maintain the lever in its operative position illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. It will be noted that in this position of the lever the branch 30 thereof engages one end wall of the slot 23 in the limb 18 and is positioned between the lugs or tangs 24. By reason of this construction it willbe manifest that when the clasp is connected with the sleeve of the garment, the material interposed between the lever 18 and the branch 30 of the lever will be effectively crimped between the latter and the lug 2-1, when the lever is moved about its pivot to operative position, thus rendering it practically impossible for the clasp to be casually disengaged from the garment. As hereinabove stated the snap 25 is operatively associated with the shank of the button A, and thereby prevents loss of the same. It might here be stated that any pull exerted upon the chain 6 will only tend to render the clasp more effective in its purpose. in its entirety is very simple in construction, yet very efficient for the purpose intended, and may be manufactured at a comvparatively small cost. It is desired to have it understood however that such changes in the construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

What is claimed is 1. A clasp a flexible element connected therewith, of a clasp associated with said flexible element and formed from a blank of material bent to provide spaced parallel limbs, oneof said limbs having an opening therein, spaced lugs projecting inwardly from one wall of said opening, the other of said limbs having a slot, a lever journaled within said slot and including angularly The device 7 disposed branches, one of said branches be- 1ng arranged between said hmbs and operatmg wlthm said opening, and adapted to engage one wall thereof between said lugs in operative position, the other of said branches being normally disposed within said slot and having a finger grip projecting therefrom, and means for holding said lever normally in operative position.

2. The combination with a fastener, and a flexible element connected therewith, of a clasp formed from a blank of material bent to provide spaced parallel limbs, a loop stamped from the closed end of said clasp for association with said flexible element, one of said limbs having an opening, spaced lugs projecting inwardly from one wall of said opening, a lever pivotally associated with the other of said limbs and including angularly disposed branches, one of said branches operating within said opening and adapted to engage the end wall thereof between said lugs in operative position, and means for normally holding said lever in operative position.

3. The combination With a fastener, and a flexible element connected therewith, of a clasp associated with said element and formed from a blank of material bent to provide spaced parallel limbs, one of said limbs having an opening, spaced lugs projecting inwardly from one wall of said opening, the other of said limbs having a substantially L-shaped slot, a lever pivotally mounted therein and including angularly disposed branches, one of said branches operating between said limbs and adapted to en'- gage the end wall of said opening between said lugs in operative position, the'other branch being normally disposed within the longitudinally disposed portion of the slot, and a spring encircling the pivot of said lever and arranged within the lateral portion of said slot, said spring having one terminal engaging the limb, and its opposite terminal engaging the lever to hold the latter normally in operative position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. JAMES M. MILLER.

Witnesses:

EDWARD YEAGER, BENNETT S. JONES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patentl, Washington, D. C. 

